Corinth

Biblical References

Acts 18:1-18

Corinth was a major city in the ancient world and also plays a significant role in the Acts narrative, and in the development of the early church.

Paul first came to Corinth on his second missionary journey, after Athens, and stayed for approximately 18 months. He plied his trade as a tent-maker there, staying with Aquila and Priscilla, Jews who had been expelled from Rome under emperor Claudius, who shared the same trade.

Having established a community of believers in Corinth, Paul also attracted some opposition from the the Jews of the city and he resolved to focus his ministry on Gentiles. (Acts 18:6) Jewish opposition continued and Paul was brought before the proconsul, Gallio. Curiously, the charges reported in Acts had nothing to do with Roman law and so Gallio dismissed the case, in effect, giving legal sanction, under Roman law, to the preaching of the gospel.

1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians

Paul's affection, and concern, for the church in Corinth is clearly evident in the two letters he addressed to them.

Other References

Acts 19:1 - Reference is made to Apollos' ministry in Corinth while Paul was in Ephesus

2 Timothy 4:20 - Paul when writing to Timothy from imprisonment in Rome makes reference to the fact that Erastus is still in Corinth.

Additional references to Achaia, the province in which Corinth was located, are found in: Acts 18: 27, Romans 15:26 and 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Visiting the Site

Corinth is approximately one hour's drive south west of Athens. I have been able to visit the archaeological site with each of the study tours in which I have participated.

I passed through Corinth on my way to Nicopolis in 2019, taking the time to track down a section of the Diolkos and a 'new' mosaic memorial at a church dedicated to St Paul, at the time still being completed.

Click here for a Google Earth view of the archaeological site of Corinth.

Corinth

These coordinates will place you in the car park of the archaeological site.

Temple of Apollo

Perhaps the signature feature of the site is the 6th C BC Temple of Apollo.

Left: Temple of Apollo, Corinth with Acrocorinth behind.

Below: Bema at Corinth.

Photos: 2 June 2012

Bema

Equally significant, from a biblical point of view, is the Bema - the place of judgement where Paul was brought before Gallio, the Roman proconsul.

Synagogue of Corinth

Not much remains but the site is significant. The location was identified by artefacts now located in the museum on the site.

Left: Inscription and Menorah relief from the Synagogue of Corinth. The partial inscription (ΓωΓΗΕΒ) appears to be a portion of "Synagogue [of the] Hebrews".

Below: Remains of the Odeon, below the car park.

Photos: 4 September 2008

Odeon of Corinth

The remains of the Odeon are below the car park and can be viewed through the fence bordering the car park. I do not know whether it is possible to gain access through the fence.

Theatre of Corinth

The Theatre is located further below the Odeon. The so-called Erastus Inscription is located in or near the theatre. Again, I do not know whether it is possible to access the theatre or the inscription.

Diolkos

Centuries before the Corinth Canal was cut, the treacherous sea journey around the Peloponnesian peninsula was avoided in a stunningly audacious way. Ships were unloaded and de-rigged on one side of the Isthmus of Corinth and, while the cargo and rigging were moved across the isthmus by conventional land transport, the hull of the ship was loaded onto a wooden 'dolly' and rolled the approximately 8 km to the other side, on what has been described as a primitive stone 'railway' system: the Diolkos!

Memorial Church and Mosaic

This is a relatively new church dedicated to St Paul on the slopes above the archaeological site of Corinth. When we visited (June 2019), men were varnishing and hanging the wooden doors of two entranceways, and frescoes were still in the making in the arch of the apse.

A beautiful memorial mosaic stands in the yard of the church and has Acrocorinth for a stunning background.

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